Victory in the desert

First Sunday of Lent - A

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19 (5:12,17-19); Matthew 4:1-11

Adam and Eve were tested in the garden (Gen. 3:1-7) and Jesus in the desert (Matt. 4:1-11). Adam failed the test causing sin and death to enter the world. Jesus, however, passed the test setting us free from sin and death. Paul presents sin as a pandemic that affects all (Rom. 5:12) but he also points to the medicine that heals us from it - Jesus' obedience (Rom 5:19).

God's commandment was clear: "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Gen. 2:16-17). The serpent, however, shrewdly changed it: "Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?" (Gen. 3:1). Moreover, the commandment does not mention the word "touch" added by Eve (Gen. 3:3). Adam and Eve have a choice to make: who to listen to? God, who says "you shall surely die"? Or the serpent who says: "You will not surely die" (Gen. 3:4)? 

At the moment of baptism, the voice from heaven said: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11), but the devil, like the serpent, tries to sow the seed of doubt in Jesus' heart: "if you are the Son of God" show me (Matt. 4:3,5). But why would Jesus do that? Unlike the other angels, the devil would not worship Jesus (Heb. 1:6). Quite the opposite, he wants Jesus to worship him (Matt. 4:9).

The devil tells Jesus to “speak” (Matt. 4:3) the way God spoke at the beginning of creation (Gen. 1:3) - “let there be” . . . bread. Jesus refuses. First, none of us is able to do that and Jesus became like us in every respect (Heb. 2:17). Second, bread is made of flour, water, and yeast and not created out of stones. Finally, “it stands written,” in the book of Deuteronomy for all generations to come that “not by bread alone man shall live, but by every word coming forth from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3). And God’s word is 'tasty': “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart" (Jer. 15:16).

From the desert, Jesus is transported to Jerusalem and set on the pinnacle of the temple. "throw yourself down", the devil says, quoting from Psalm 91:11-12 the words that assure of God’s protection. Perhaps, the devil thinks that he is a great Scripture scholar, but Jesus is the living Word of God. Therefore Jesus refuses again. No one can defy the force of gravity that has been established by the Creator of the universe. Such a jump would indeed be putting God to the test (Deut. 6:16).

From the pinnacle of the temple, Jesus is brought to the top of a high mountain to be shown "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory". The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest but no kingdom can be seen from its top. The exceedingly high mountain symbolizes Satan's ego. Standing at the top of a mountain he sees himself at the top of the world (Luke 4:6). And he is so delusional about his grandeur that he demands adoration from the Son of God (Matt. 4:9).

“Go behind me Satan!” (Matt. 4:10). Peter heard the same words when he stood between Jesus and the cross (Mark 8:33). Worship and serve God alone! When the Magi prostrated themselves before the baby Jesus, they worshiped Him (Matt. 2:11) and the word “serve - latreia” means adoration that can be directed only to the Holy Trinity.  

When the devil left, Jesus could finally eat - the angels served Him (Acts 6:1-6). And when Christ accomplished the redemption of humanity He has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18) and every knee should bow at the name of Jesus (Phil. 2:10).